city, Skåne län (county), southern Sweden, lying on Hammar Lake and the Helge River. It was founded in 1614 by King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway as a border defense against Sweden. Ceded to Sweden in 1658, it was retaken by Christian V in 1676 and finally acquired by Sweden in 1678.

Tyggården, which was built in 1615 as a royal palace, was subsequently used as a royal stable and now houses a museum. The Technical College and Museum, with industrial, social history, and art exhibits, was occupied by King Stanisław I of Poland and his court from 1711 to 1714. It served as the capital of Kristianstad county until the county became part of Skåne county in 1997.

Kristianstad is a rail, commercial, and industrial centre, with engineering works, flour and textile mills, slaughterhouses, and food-processing plants. Its seaport, Åhus, is situated on the Baltic Sea, about 11 miles (18 km) southeast. The city is home to Kristianstad College. Pop. (2005 est.) mun., 75,915.

former län (county) of southern Sweden, extending between Skalder Bay on the Kattegat (strait) and Hanö Bay on the Baltic Sea. Founded as a county in 1719, it was merged with the county of Malmöhus in 1997 to form the county of Skåne.